Casey

I had been in my room for an hour or two after my mom arrived. I was dressed, but I didn't feel like dealing with her on my own. Which is why I got some hefty back up. I hear knocking come from the living room. Just in time too. I exit my room to find my mother in the kitchen cooking. I frown. She's getting way too comfortable.

I ignore her presence and head towards my door. I open it. Cassandra eyes me carefully before entering. I'm about to close the door behind her when a hand stops me. Edwin, Duke, and Jasmine enter.

Jasmine eyes me for a few seconds but looks away.

Why the hell did Cass bring them here? I was fine with Edwin being here, he knows my back story but the other two didn't. I didn't want to get them mixed up in all of this mess. My mother glances back, her eyes landing on two of the familiar faces.

"Oh Cass, Eddie! It's so good to see you two" my mother smiles. She pulls the two in for a hug before her eyes land on Duke and Jasmine. "And who are you two? I don't think we've met before."

Duke takes initiative in introducing himself first. "I'm Duke, a close friend of Casey's."

My mother smiles and glances at me as if she's proud. I puke mentally, as long as she doesn't try hooking us up, I'm fine. Duke was not my type, obviously because I'm a lesbian. But even if I wasn't I wouldn't go for someone like him. He was kind of like a brother at this point. A younger and annoying little brother.

"And I'm Jasmine..." Jasmine mutters shyly.

My mom offers her fakest smile as she shakes the girl's hand. Jasmine eyes me, to which my mother catches. "Is your friend here a lesbian?" she asks me as she eyes Jasmine with disgust. I frown and step in front of Jasmine. "She's bisexual, but it doesn't matter."

"Pan actually" Jasmine corrects. I turn towards her with a smile, "Really? That's kind of cool." Jasmine nods her head with a smile, feeling accepted. I could tell this was the first time she was coming out about her sexuality. "Pan?" my mother ruins a moment.

I sigh and turn towards the woman. "It means she doesn't care about gender, she's all about personality."

My mom glances at Cass before looking back to me. "I leave for three years, I expected for you to learn and get better, now you're making friends with this weird girl?"

"Learn and get better from what? From your mental and physical abuse? The people that I make friends with doesn't change me. I was a lesbian before I met her and I'm a lesbian now. All that my friends have taught me was to be better and not let people like you bring me down."

Cass places her hand on my mothers' back. "I think it's best we go get you that hotel room now."

My mom eyes me in disgust before nodding her head. She heads back into the kitchen and turns off the stove. "Well I made breakfast if anyone gets hungry."

She doesn't say anything else as she grabs her purse and heads out of my apartment with Cassandra. Once the two are gone I let out a deep breath I had no idea I was holding. I glance at Jasmine and the two idiots before heading into my room for some solitary.

- - - - -

By the time I exit my room, it's damn near 3pm. And unexpectedly, my friends were still here accompanied by my sister. I smile as I watch the four play UNO. "You can't stack a draw 2 on top of another draw 2" Cass whines.

The three laugh, "That rule sucks and takes fun from the game. Stop being a pussy" Edwin nudges her. I shake my head and head into the living room, grabbing Jasmine and Cassandra's attention. "Sleeping beauty is awake now" Jasmine jokes.

She pats the spot beside her and I oblige. I sit next to the brunette and lean my head on her shoulder. I knew the rest of the week would be stressful, but I was grateful for them being here and supporting me. Duke and Edwin glance at the two of us. "You guys kiss and makeup already?" Duke questions as he places a card down.

I glance up at Jasmine for an answer. She doesn't for a few seconds as the game continues. After her second turn she decides to speak up.

"Not exactly. No matter how angry I am with Casey she's my friend and if she needs my support then I'll give it to her."

"You guys are so gay" Edwin jokes.

He places down a card and before he can get the words out Cassandra and Duke beat him to it. "No UNO!" they yell in unison before laughing. Edwin groans and draws two cards.

"So what are we going to do about your mom?" Edwin questions as they continue playing. I glance at Jasmine's hand and show her which card she should play next. "Not sure. I just don't want to deal with her. I know she's not going to leave me alone during her stay. I don't know how I'll handle it."

"Remember dad did say you can go stay with him for a few until she leaves" Cass reminds. I nod my head with a smile. "Thank you guys" I sigh. They all look at me in confusion, so I continue. "For skipping school and coming here to help. You guys didn't have to but I'm truly thankful, you guys helped me a lot. I didn't cry like I usually would."

Jasmine places her free hand on my leg and rubs it. Their game continues. Eventually Jasmine wins, with my help. There's a knock on my door that breaks my attention away from my friends and sister. I stand and make my way over, peeking through the peep hole for the first time in forever.

Seeing that it's Kathryn, I can't help but to smile as I unlock and open the door. She's still in the same outfit from this morning. The only difference from now and this morning were the tired bags under her eyes.

"Hey" I smile and lean against my door frame. I cross my arms and eye the woman in confusion.

Kathryn smiles at me warmly, "Hey. Are you busy Friday?" she questions. I shake my head without a second thought. I was never too busy for the Kathryn Howard. Ugh.

"No, not that I know of. Why? What's going on Friday?" I question as I stand up straight. I stuff my hands into my pocket as I wait for an answer. Kathryn rubs her hands together before speaking.

"Uh, well, we haven't really hung out recently and I was wondering if you would like to come over Friday and hang out. I mean if you want to, I know it's before Halloween so you might have other plans... but if you're free I would really..." Kathryn pauses when she notices my wide grin.

"I would really like for you to come over tomorrow night" she mutters the last part.

I can't help but to feel the second hand embarrassment. "Definitely. Just make sure you have booze, Casey Kings doesn't survive on soda" I joke with a wink.

I watch Kathryn's face light up at my agreement. She nods her head before leaving and going into her own apartment. The feelings just keep on brewing. Casey, you're not going to get over this crush if you keep hanging out with her. I roll my eyes at myself before closing my door and rejoining my friends.

"Who was that?" Duke questions as I take my spot next to Jasmine. She eyes me as well, in curiosity. I shake my head, "Uh, just my neighbor. Asked if I had any sugar" I lie. Cassandra and Edwin glance at me knowingly with a smirk, to which I ignore.

They deal me into the next game. "Loser buys lunch" I state, feeling slightly hungry. "You're on. We all know I'm the UNO king" Edwin chuckles.

Jasmine eyes him with a laugh, "Didn't I win the last game?"

Edwin glares at her, "With help. So technically, you didn't win. We just ended the game because you were cheating." This causes all four of us to laugh. Edwin was a sore loser. Sad. The game begins and immediately Edwin has to draw cards.

"Whoever shuffled needs to be grounded, I've got terrible cards" Edwin complains. "You definitely shuffled" Duke laughs as he places down another draw 4 for Edwin. We all can't help but to laugh as Edwin draws four more cards. "You kind of suck at Uno and you call yourself the 'UNO KING', hate to break it to you..." Cass teases the boy.

I glance at my sister and best friend as they glare at each other. I watch the two a bit longer, feeling awkward. "Are you two dating?" I question startling them. Edwin glances at me as Cassandra keeps her eyes on her cards. "What?"

"I mean, it would make sense. You guys are really close" Duke comments.

"Yeah, you guys have a point. Ever since we met Casey's sister Edwin has been in his phone none stop when she's not around. And when she is, his phone is nearly never spotted" Jasmine states. Now that she was saying it, the more sense it seemed to make. But I would expect for Edwin to tell me if he and my sister were involved.

Cass glances at Jasmine. I smirk as I set my cards down. "Are you guys dating? I mean as the best friend and sister, I think I should know." My eyes flicker between the two as they nervously fidget with their fingers.

"Yes" Cassandra finally answers. Something in my chest feels oddly weird as my brain receives the new information. "For how long?" I question.

Edwin's eyes meet mine. "Almost a year."

I scoff at the two as I close my eyes. A year. They've been together for almost a year and I never knew? This whole time my sister and my best friend have been in a romantic relationship together? You would think they'd let me know once they were official. "You guys have been dating for a year and you never thought to tell me?" I question.

The sudden realization of the amount of betrayal and lies hits me. "What about those girls you've been seeing?" I ask Edwin. I don't wait for an answer as I glance at Cassandra, "And the guys you've been telling me about? Those were all lies?"

"We didn't know how you would take the information, so we let you believe what you wanted to."

"Edwin, you've been my best friend since I was a kid! I would've supported you guys."

I didn't know what hurt more. The fact that Edwin went behind my back and hooked up with my sister. Or the fact that they have been together for a year and never thought to tell me. "Does mom or dad know?" I question.

Cassandra looks away which causes me to scoff. Of course I would be the last to know. Casey, never gets to know the truth about anything. "Get out." Everyone glances at me in confusion.

No one seems to make a move which causes me to feel more irritated than I did. "I said get out!" I hiss. Jasmine and Duke are the first to leave followed by Edwin. Cassandra doesn't move.

"Cassandra, I said get out" I yell towards my sister. "Casey I--"

"Get the fuck out of my apartment! Just fucking leave."

And she does.